Latest news with #mechanicalengineering
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Stanford researchers unveil breakthrough for treating blood clots in stroke, heart attack patients
Stanford researchers have discovered a breakthrough technology to eliminate blood clots to treat strokes, heart attacks, and other clot-related diseases. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. It happens when a clot blocks blood flow in the brain. Time is crucial when treating stroke patients. During a stroke, millions of neurons die every second, causing permanent, irreversible damage to the brain. The researchers came up with a new, life-saving way to shrink and remove these damaging clots. The technology is called a milli-spinner thrombectomy. Renee Zhao, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University, is leading breakthrough technology in treating stroke patients. "This new technology is extremely exciting because we physically developed the first mechanism to shrink the size of the clot, so we can shrink the clot from its original size to just 5% of its original volume," said Renee Zhao, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University. Currently, the only way to treat stroke patients is to either inject a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a chemical to dissolve the clot, which only works in the first few hours. The clot can then be removed through aspiration thrombectomy, sucking it out like a vacuum machine or through mechanical thrombectomy stent removal to pull out the clot. The problem with both cases is that the clot can easily break apart, fragmenting into smaller pieces that could move into extremely difficult places to reach. Zhao said their the milli-spinner thrombectomy invention actually changes the microstructure of the clot. "This is very similar to the microstructure of a clot," said Zhao. "It's a bunch of fiber networks, and it's very loosely distributed. And now what the spinner is doing is that when it rotates, it generates a sheer force. It's like my palm applying a sheer force just like that, so it densifies the fiber network. Eventually, what we see is a highly-densified fiber core." The incredible thing is that Zhao and her researchers were completely surprised by their invention, never expecting to see the clot transform before their eyes. "Interestingly, we found a very exciting phenomenon," said Zhao. "We physically saw the clot start to turn white because a clot is red and it has all the red blood cells in the fiber network, but it turned white! That's bizarre! Basically, we've never seen anything like that." "The first step is I'm going to load our milli-spinner into the catheter," said Stanford 4th-year Ph. D. student Yilong Chang. "Here's what our milli-spinner looks like. It's 1.2 millimeter in diameter. It's very small. It has a unique geometry with a hole in the front and four slits on the side." Researchers gave us a demo of the milli-spinner in action, showing us exactly how it works and how quickly it can remove a clot. "Now I still feel this mechanism is not something that someone can easily come up with a clot treatment strategy by extracting the fiber," said Zhao. "Nobody would think of that, so the key point of the way we do research is always feel free and open to the unexpected findings, and they will always give us something that is beyond imagination!" The spirit of Zhao's lab is one of curiosity, creativity and exploration. She said true innovation comes when you embrace the unexpected. It's this passion that drives the advancements of her lab's impressive scientific discoveries. Zhao's new technology, published last month in the scientific journal Nature, is more than twice as effective as current techniques. Zhao and her team of researchers are hoping to perform their first trial on a human next year.
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘Only S$3k?' Man questions why engineering grad friend is paid so little
SINGAPORE: A man felt disappointed upon learning that his friend, a mechanical engineering graduate, was earning just S$3,000 a month. On Sunday (Jun 29), he took to the r/askSingapore subreddit to seek advice from others. In his post, he explained that on top of the low salary, the job also requires employees to work half-days on Saturdays and offers only a fixed bonus of S$1,000. 'I find that this [salary] is considered very very little for someone who holds a degree. Is it because he is from a private uni or is it because it's a stingy bully people private company?' he asked others. 'I am hoping he could find a better job, but over here all he does is mostly paperwork and not related to what he studied at all, so how to even gain experience over here to jump ship? Is it difficult to find a job that pays well for someone who graduated from private uni with mechanical engineering degree? Is there anything he could do to get out of this situation? Re-study something else? Etc?' 'Mechanical engineering options here simply suck, that's the sad truth.' In the comments, several Singaporean Redditors chimed in with their thoughts and advice. Some suggested that the graduate should consider looking for a role that aligns more closely with his qualifications. One user said, 'He should find a different job that makes use of his degree to be honest. His current job scope sounds like admin work, which justifies the pay. How long has he been in this company for? 'If <1 year, I think he's still able to jump ship. Highly depends on his grades and internship experiences (if any). Additionally, if he can ask for referrals from any of his peers working in the industry, it would be a big plus.' Another pointed out that simply having a degree does not guarantee a higher salary. 'Unfortunately, 'hold degree' does not entitle one to getting paid $X. It depends on so many factors. That individual's capabilities, the job scope, the value (actual and perceived) they bring to the business, market, luck, etc.' A third user, who also graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, shared their personal experience. 'Mechanical engineering options here simply suck, that's the sad truth. I've always been lowballed like that. I've switched to embedded/software and doubled my salary.' 'There's only a handful of companies here paying decent, and it's quite hard to get into them. Usually, all the military-related companies like ST/DSO and a few private aerospace companies. Everything else fresh grad pay is S$3.5k st best in small SMEs (small and medium enterprises).' How much does a mechanical engineer earn in Singapore? According to Glassdoor, mechanical engineers in Singapore typically earn between S$4,000 and S$5,000 per month on average. Indeed offers a slightly lower estimate, reporting an average monthly salary of around S$4,115. Meanwhile, Jobstreet indicates that salaries in this field generally fall within the range of S$3,600 to S$5,000, depending on the candidate's experience and the sector they are employed in. Read more: Maid says she was tasked to clean window exteriors on 8th floor once a month, asks netizens for advice See also Employer who 'didn't pay maid for 13 months' gets fined $14,000 Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Johns Hopkins engineering students invent printer for Maryland brewery's braille labels
Engineering students at Johns Hopkins University invented a printer for a Maryland brewery that adds braille writing to beer labels, university officials said. Nonprofit Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM) reached out to the university's mechanical engineering school in 2024, asking for a printer that could include braille writing. Inventing a beer label-friendly braille printer The students began designing and building the machine in September. University officials said the invention is able to punch braille text onto plastic beer labels and other materials that commercial braille printers are not able to accommodate. BISM is the largest employer of blind and low-vision workers in Maryland, according to university officials. The students were able to design the printer so that BISM employees with low or no vision can use it. Unlike other options, the students' printer has open hardware that makes it easier to operate. "You can reach your hand in and feel everything going on inside our printer. Having open hardware that allows people to touch all the components was important," said Catherine Pollard, a mechanical engineering senior and project team member. "We really took into consideration who would be operating the machine and how they were going to use it." The group of students also created software that helps the printer communicate with a braille word processor and photo design software that the nonprofit uses in its office. "Seeing how much adaptive technology BISM has already incorporated into their lives was inspiring, and it helped us understand how our product could slot into their day-to-day work," said Gabriella Hu, a senior in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The engineering students printed 400 labels for Blind Spot, a beer crafted by Checkerspot Brewing Company in Baltimore. The brewery works with BISM for an annual fundraiser that supports individuals with vision loss. The printer should prevent BISM employees from having to use a manual press to punch braille dots into thousands of labels next year, JHU officials said.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- ABC News
Wollongong man completes mammoth six-year steamboat build in backyard
Ask Andrew Scobie his secret to building a 20th-century steamboat in his backyard shed and he will say it took a "couple of cups of coffee and maybe a couple of beers". The Wollongong man spent up to three hours a day for six years working on the passion project, all because he was tired of watching television. "I was bored … so I thought it'd be nice to tinker in the shed," Mr Scobie said. "And quite a few years back, I built a model steam train with my father so we thought, 'We like all things mechanical, so let's venture onto a new project.'" The 58-year-old has now completed a seven-seater steam-powered vessel designed for family adventures on some of Australia's most picturesque waterways. It was inspired by the Edwardian era of steam travel and incorporates authentic details like shiny brass fixtures, red leather seats, a steam engine and chimney. "If you were on a boat, for instance, and had a loose bit of timber, it was a very easy fuel source and mode of transport." The University of Wollongong staffer, husband and father financed the entire build and had all mechanical elements certified. Mr Scobie said he enjoyed making it a social activity with friends and his father, who earnt a living as a steam ship engineer. "I sourced the hull skin and then started to do some of the fitting out. Around that time, a friend had the boiler certified," he said. Just a few weeks out from the boat's maiden voyage, Mr Scobie's father Clarke died. "We were trying and pushing this last year and a half, putting a lot more hours in," said daughter Caitlyn Scobie. "Obviously he didn't make it but that's OK … I think he'd be really proud." Mr Scobie paid homage to his dad by wearing his former sailing uniform during the boat's first run last weekend. "We had a lot of time for each other, talking engineering and other things. It was a great connection we had over the years," he said. The moment was witnessed by dozens of boating enthusiasts and Shell Cove locals, some of whom could not help but cheer as the boat's belly hit the water. After a successful lap around the marina, Mr Scobie said his hobby build would be put to good use. "I look forward to the next weeks, months, years enjoying sunny days like this on the water," he said.
Khaleej Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
IWC Schaffhausen unveils 2 new Big Pilot's watches inspired by 'The Little Prince'
The tourbillon is the most ethereal of complications. It wraps time in drama, sheathing the escapement in a rotating cage that completes a delicate pirouette once every minute. Originally conceived to counteract gravity's pull on the regulating organ, it has since transcended its technical mandate, becoming both a feat of mechanical ingenuity and a spectacle of motion. It suspends time, freezes it mid-breath, and sends it floating across nothingness. In that spinning cage, timekeeping becomes a mesmerising performance – a dance of time against time itself. And it is this very spirit of suspension and weightless wonder that IWC Schaffhausen captures in its latest duo of celestial tributes to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's fable, The Little Prince — an enduring tale of wonder, love, and the invisible truths that matter most. The Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince and the Big Pilot's Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince are lyrical time machines, imbued with literary soul and powered by some of the most sophisticated mechanical movements IWC has ever created. Let's begin with the more commanding of the duo — the 46.5mm Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon. Cloaked in a deep, almost galactic blue ceramic — a first for a Le Petit Prince edition — the case is anchored by flashes of 18-carat gold at the crown and case back. The contrast is deliberate: regal gold against the stillness of night-sky blue, a prelude to the performance within. This limited edition of 100 pieces doesn't just carry two high complications — it elevates them. At 12 o'clock, the flying minute tourbillon — a feat of engineering assembled from 82 parts yet weighing less than a gram — floats like a delicate dancer. Below, an unusually emotive perpetual calendar unfolds its quiet drama. Instead of a conventional moon phase, we're gifted an image of the Little Prince on his asteroid — a detail as poignant as it is whimsical. It's a love letter to childhood nostalgia, rendered in gears and wheels. The movement driving this spectacle, the 51950 calibre, is a mechanical saga — 447 components beating in synchrony, crowned by a rotor shaped like the Little Prince himself, poised on his tiny planet amid a field of wild baobabs. Even the power reserve of seven days feels like a generous indulgence, as if the watch itself understands that good stories must never be hurried. Its companion, the 43mm Tourbillon in platinum, is a masterclass in restraint and refinement. Smaller in stature but no less commanding, its cool brilliance is perfectly matched to the blue sunray dial and luminous rhodium-plated markers. The tourbillon sits at 6 o'clock, turning softly like an unspoken thought drifting towards expression. The proprietary Diamond Shell coating within the 82905 calibre allows energy to flow like a well-told tale — frictionless and effortless — delivering an 80-hour power reserve. This watch is quiet confidence incarnate. The platinum sings in a register only connoisseurs hear. And through the transparent case back, the familiar figure of the Little Prince reappears as ornament and spirit. In these two new Big Pilots, IWC beautifully channels nostalgia, memory, and technical virtuosity into wearable prose. More than tributes to The Little Prince, these watches feel like quiet arguments with its most famous line —that what is essential is invisible to the eye. Because here, in the spinning stillness of a tourbillon, the truly essential is visible, pulsing at 28,800 vibrations per hour.
